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Method for controlling an external storage system having multiple external storage devices

a technology of external storage and control method, which is applied in the direction of error detection/correction, input/output to record carriers, instruments, etc., can solve the problem that external storage devices cannot communicate with external systems

Inactive Publication Date: 2003-07-24
IBM CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, once the connection between the external storage device and the hub is disabled, the external storage device cannot communicate with external systems even if the external storage device itself is operating normally.

Method used

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  • Method for controlling an external storage system having multiple external storage devices
  • Method for controlling an external storage system having multiple external storage devices
  • Method for controlling an external storage system having multiple external storage devices

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0017] FIG. 1 depicts a data processing system 5 having an external storage system 10 and a host computer 50. As shown, external storage system 10 is connected to host computer 50. A user sends an access request to external storage system 10 using host computer 50. Upon receiving the access request from host computer 50, external storage system 10 stores data that have been received from host computer 50, or returns stored data to host computer 50 according to the access request.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows internal connections of external storage system 10. As shown, external storage system 10 is provided with external storage devices 100A-100D, a first route 20, a first spare communication channel 210, a second route 30, and a second spare communication channel 310. Each of external storage devices 100A-100D has a first connection unit 110, a second connection unit 120, a third connection unit 130, and a fourth connection unit 140. In external storage system 10, external storage devices 10...

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PUM

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Abstract

An external storage device is part of a ring-like first route formed by connecting multiple external storage devices to each other via communication channels. The external storage device comprises a first connection unit having a first input port and a first output port, and a second connection unit having a second output port and a second input port that are connected to a first input port and a first output port of an adjacent external storage device on the first route, respectively, to form one communication channel of the first route. When both connection units are enabled, information received by the first input port and the second input port is sent from the second output port and the first output port, respectively. When one of the connection units is disabled, information received by the input port of an enabled connection unit is sent from the output port of the enabled connection unit. If a communication failure has been detected in one communication channel of the first route, connections to the first spare communication channel are enabled, and connections to the failure-detected communication channel are disabled.

Description

RELATED PATENT APPLICATION[0001] The present patent application claims priority to co-pending Japanese Application No. JP 2002-013517, filed on Jan. 22, 2002.[0002] 1. Technical Field[0003] The present invention relates to external storage devices in general, and, in particular, to an external storage system having multiple external storage devices. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method for controlling an external storage system having multiple external storage devices.[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art[0005] In a data processing system in which multiple external storage devices are connected to a single hub, when one external storage device is rendered incapable of communication due to a cable or device failure, the hub reconstructs a communication channel by disabling a connection between that external storage device and the hub. However, once the connection between the external storage device and the hub is disabled, the external storage device ...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G06F3/06G06F12/16
CPCG06F3/0617G06F3/068G06F3/0658G06F3/0635
Inventor ISHIMOTO, TAKESHISUMIYOSHI, TOHRU
Owner IBM CORP